Table of Contents

What is Site Mesh 3D?
Usage Models Projects
Cameras
Map Modes

Documentation

Documentation is currently being developed. Please use our support request form or view our tutorials if you need some assistance.

What is Site Mesh 3D?

Site Mesh 3D is a CCTV site plan simulator tool that allows the user to place specific cameras on 3D objects within Google 3D maps, or on Google 2D maps. For sites without existing Google 3D objects, users can upload a map overlay to allow adding of cameras to future sites. Site Mesh 3D provides a visual performance of cameras based on the camera specifications, installed height above ground, downtilt, terrain, and the structure it is installed on.

Site Mesh 3D provides a visual site plan of the installed cameras and a pdf report on the project. PDF reports and the camera database are available for paid subscribers.

Why is this important?

This is important for home owners and installers in that you can see exactly where the uncovered areas are and how the image resolution will appear for each camera. The usual way is to estimate where the cameras should be and then alter the coverage during installation. The end result is holes in the coverage and vulnerabilities in the site security. With Site Mesh 3D you see exactly what the coverage will be, can easily swap a camera for another one to check the performance, and you have a printout of the cameras, height, bearing, zoom etc for the installation.

How is performance displayed?

Site Mesh 3D uses the DORI method to display performance. Technically DORI is defined as a “general proximity” of distance based on sensor specification and lab test result according to EN 62676-4 which defines the criteria for Detect, Observe, Recognize and Identify respectively. Site Mesh 3D displays the area where a person will be detected (D) as green, Observed (O) as light green, Recognised (R) as orange, and identified (I) as red. Using DORI we can see whether important zones are covered to ensure law enforcement will have sufficient evidence to bring charges against an intruder.

Site Mesh 3D Usage Models

Site Mesh 3D has several usage models:

Free Plan - Limited to 14 days the user can test out the system. The limitations are 1 project, 4 generic cameras, no PDF reports. This is still powerful in that the user can modify the generic cameras with actual camera data to simulate a specific camera. The main purpose is to assess whether the system will work for your specific project,
Project Plan - Monthly subscription with full access to the camera database and PDF reports. Limited to 2 projects of up to 24 cameras. Ideal for home / business owners wanting to plan a personal installation.
Commercial Plan - Everything in Project with unlimited projects and cameras. Ideal for professional installers, designers, and trades who need multiple projects. The Commercial Plan also includes the ability to add Team licences which allow Team members to work on Commercial Plan projects, perfect for businesses that have a team based approach to CCTV projects.

Site Mesh 3D Projects

A Site Mesh 3D Project is a map location with an associated list of cameras.  A Project may span multiple sites e.g. a shopping center including car park, mall, and storage areas.  When creating a Project you will give it a name and Project Street Address.  These are administrative only and are for your own information.  If you do not place a camera on the street address you will need to enter the project address above the map when you load the project so that the Google Map flies to the location.  Once a camera has been added to the street address and saved, the next time you open that project the Google Map will fly to the address, or where you have multiple cameras, fly to the first camera. 

Site Mesh 3D Cameras

Site Mesh 3D cameras are user added objects that are placed on a project to represent real cameras.  Cameras are pinned to a structure or location and include the following data which defines a camera:

Name - useful for describing the cameras purpose. Automatically assigned but may be customised.
Brand - Automatically assigned but may be customised.
Model Number - Automatically assigned but may be customised.
Sensor Width - The width of the image in pixels. Pixels are the tiny segments that make up an image. The higher the number, the greater the picture definition.
Sensor Height - The height of the image in pixels. Pixels are the tiny segments that make up an image. The higher the number, the greater the picture definition.
Body Type - Useful for reports. Automatically assigned from camera database. Not customisable.
Lens Type - Useful for reports. Automatically assigned from camera database. Not customisable.
Latitude / Longitude - Retrieved from camera pin location. Changed by moving the camera
Base Altitude - Retrieved from camera pin location on the 3D map. Changed by moving the camera
Ground Altitude - Set by the "Set Ground Elevation" button and clicking on the ground close to the camera. This is used to calculate the actual height of the camera above ground at the location. The height of the camera can be adjusted if not correct by setting a mount height to adjust the base altitude.
Azimuth Bearing - Direction the camera is facing.
Lens Tilt - The vertical tilt on the camera (usually downwards) from a structure.
H-FOV° - The horizontal field of view in degrees. This represents how wide the camera view is and is required. Automatically assigned from camera database.
V-FOV° - The vertical field of view in degrees. This represents how long (height of view) the camera view is and is required. Automatically assigned from camera database.
LENS (mm) - Represents the camera focal length and is measured from the center of the lens to the image sensor. Practically the lower the number, the wider the view. Typical surveillance lenses are 2.8mm for 90 to 110°, with the higher the number, the more narrowed and zoomed the output image.
IR Dist (m) - IR is Infra Red and is used for night vision. Infra Red is invisible to human eyes. A camera will illuminate the scene at night time with Infra Red light and the sensor will save the images as black and white images. The distance represents how far the illuminators and the sensor can detect images and is used for the visual IR detection range.
Mounting Bracket - Used to adjust the camera height when using a bracket or for when the height above ground returned from Google data requires adjustment. It is important that the camera height is as accurate as possible.
Manual DORI Override - DORI is automatically calculated from the camera specification. When a manufacturer published DORI you can enter their specific DORI values here and the calculated values will be ignored. Our camera database includes published DORI values when available.
Precision Placement Nudge Controller - A North, South, East, West postion controller for fine tuning cameras. Note that you will need to check Base height with the Mounting bracket adjustment after nudging a camera.
Installation Notes - Notes required to assist the installation of the camera.
Target Height - The plan view of the camera shows the various DORI zones - Identify, Recognise, Observe, and Detect. The Target Height is the height for the DORI values. Target Height is typically 1.6m as that is the average height of a human face.

Site Mesh 3D Map Modes

Site Mesh 3D always loads the Project Design Tool in 3D Mode. Google 3D maps provide a realistic, interactive model of the world. They blend satellite images, aerial photos, and AI data to show buildings, roads, and terrain in three dimensions. Site Mesh 3D utilises the 3D data when placing cameras on 3D structures.

Google 2D maps provide a flat, top-down, vector-based or photographic representation of the Earth's surface. They utilise standardized tile grids to render roads, terrain, and labels cleanly. They do not include 3D data for heights of objexts. 2D Map Mode allows you to switch between Street Map view and Satellite view which can be useful when adding cameras.

3D CAD Mode loads a 2D map that allows you to build a 3D CAD structure to represent a new building, a planned building renovation, or a structure.  The drawings are block based and the heights can be set in the designer.  This allows cameras to be added in 3D and it shows the shadowing caused by 3D structures on the camera field of view.  This is useful for modelling a building, showing the effect of build structures or terrain that is not shown in the Google 3D metdata.  When switching back to 3D Map Mode the cameras will float in space in the location and at the height they were added in 3D CAD Mode.

When to use 2D Map Mode - 2D Map Mode is useful when adding cameras in dense bushy sites where visibilty of the structure is difficult because of tree clutter. 2D Map Mode is also the only mode that allows you to overlay a site plan on a map for future sites. Once the cameras are placed in 2D mode you can switch to 3D mode to set the ground height and adjust the Base height using the Mounting Height adjustment. From there you can work in 3D to simulate the new site or adjust the camera within the tree clutter.